WHY CHOOSE TRAVERTINE?
Travertine is a rare, exotic stone. Travertine is formed by calcium-rich hot spring water flowing through layers of limestone in the earth. The hot water dissolves some of the limestone while precipitating calcite (calcium carbonate) in those void areas. Travertine is similar in composition to limestone, but limestone is formed in marine environments.
The beauty of travertine comes from its warm hues and soft textures. It has never gone out of style and never will. Travertine can be white, cream, yellow, pink, tan, or even sometimes reddish, thanks to iron deposits in the stone.
Browse some of our most popular travertine colors for your next project. Remember that as a natural stone, travertine slabs may vary from the images you see online. No two slabs of natural stone are identical. Book an appointment to visit our showroom, conveniently located between Greensboro and Winston-Salem.
How durable is travertine? Travertine is not appropriate choice for a working surface, such as kitchen countertops due to its softness. Its softness makes it prone to scratching. In addition, the stone is very porous, with obvious “holes” or voids in the stone. This unique texture of travertine can be left “unfilled” for visual and textural uniqueness, or it can be filled with epoxy to produce a smoother surface. The use of sealer is absolutely necessary since it is such a porous stone.
What are appropriate uses for travertine? While travertine is not suitable for a kitchen countertop, it makes for an excellent backsplash, bathroom vanity, wall tile, table top, or even flooring. Travertine cladding is a great choice for interior and exterior walls, as is commonly seen in commercial buildings, public spaces, and even private residential bathrooms.
The travertine colors listed below are just a few of the hundreds of travertine colors available. These colors are not guaranteed to be in-stock.
Visit our LIVE INVENTORY page to browse our current inventory of travertine slabs.
Classic
Crema Polished
Durango
Navona
Noce
Romano
Silver
White
Yellow
Silver Travertine
CARE & MAINTENANCE
Cleaning your marble, travertine, or onyx countertops after each use (or at least daily) is recommended. Use warm, soapy water or any ammonia-free and bleach-free cleaning solution to wipe up dirt, spills, or any other residue. Feel free to also use any product specifically marketed as a marble cleaner or marble-safe product. You can also ask us about our 3-in-1 “Cleaner, Protector, Polisher”, available for purchase!
Sealing
In order to help protect your marble, travertine, or onyx, a sealer solution applied (either the standard 1-year or upgraded 15-year option, depending on your selection) at the time of fabrication. The sealer prevents liquid absorption and staining. If you select the standard 1-year sealer, you must remember to re-seal the stone one year after our factory sealer was applied. A properly applied sealer will cause water to bead up on the surface of the stone, rather than penetrate the stone.
Heat
Marble, travertine, and onyx are heat-resistant stones. This gives you the ability to place hot pots directly on the surface. However, it is best practice to use a heat trivet as extra protection. As with any product, marble and travertine are not indestructible.
Scratching
Marble, travertine, and onyx are very prone to scratching. Avoid using sharp knives and other sharp objects directly on your countertops. Also avoid dragging or rubbing coarse/sharp items across your countertop. When cutting/chopping, it is best practice to use a cutting board. Expect that your natural marble or travertine countertops will show signs of wear and tear with time.
Staining & Etching
Marble, travertine, and onyx are very porous stones, thus susceptible to staining and etching. Etching is when a very acidic or basic product erodes the minerals in the stone, thus creating a dull spot. Sealer helps prevent liquid absorption, thus preventing staining; but it does not always prevent etching. Thus, it is best practice to clean up liquid spills immediately, especially spills such as coffee, red wine, vinegar, lemon juice, or strong soaps and detergents. If you begin to notice discoloration or watermarks on your marble, travertine, or onyx surface, please contact us as soon as possible.
Durability
Marble, onyx, and travertine can chip or break if impacted by a heavy object. Do not stand on your countertop or bang items against it. Use care when placing large or heavy objects on your countertops.
